Jake Mace
Sikisa’s upcoming EdFringe comedy hour has been titled Serving Justice – and she promises a thought-provoking hour exploring truth, identity, and what justice looks like in love and life. With such an intriguing premise for a stand-up show, we decided it was high time to catch up with Sikisa for a pixelated pint to find out more.
You can catch Sikisa: Serving Justice at Monkey Barrel Comedy (The Tron) from July 30th to August 24th (not the 12th) at 17:50 (60mins). Tickets are available through the EdFringe Online Box Office.
Jake: Hi Sikisa! Your upcoming hour explores truth, identity, and what justice looks like in love and life – tell us what you’ve found out along the way and what inspired the show.
Sikisa: This show was really born out of me feeling a bit… stuck. Like I was living in an escape room built by society – one where I was meant to have found “the one,” figured out my life plan, and maybe even be popping out kids… but instead, I was Googling how to escape out of wrestling holds.
I wanted to explore the pressure to present a version of ourselves that feels polished, happy, successful – even when that’s not the full story. Truth and identity, for me, have become about being honest with myself first. I work in immigration law, so I see what justice actually looks like – and it’s less Lady Justice with the scales, and more ‘Karen at the Home Office’ misplacing someone’s paperwork for six years. It makes you think about fairness, about who gets to be heard, and also why dating apps keep matching me with men who list “banter” as a personality trait. What I’ve learnt is: honesty is hard, vulnerability is terrifying, and wrestling hurts way more than therapy. But if you can laugh at it – and get other people to laugh too – that’s where the real freedom is. That, and finally escaping the expectations other people set for you. Or at least pretending you meant to forward roll into a wall.
Jake: Tell us about your process of writing comedy – and how you found the comedy in a concept like justice.
Sikisa: For me, writing comedy starts with oversharing. I basically collect all my questionable life choices, awkward moments, and intrusive thoughts – like Pokémon, but with more trauma – and then try to find the bit that makes people laugh. With something like justice, it’s tricky – because it’s such a serious concept. But comedy is how I process the stuff that would otherwise make me scream into a pillow everyday.
I think comedy can hold heavy topics, as long as you’re punching up – and making sure the joke is never at the expense of the people actually going through it. Plus, sometimes the funniest stuff comes from the injustice itself, because it’s so clearly ridiculous. If you don’t laugh, you’ll cry. Or in my case – do both, then write a punchline about it.
Jake: What are you hoping the audience might take away from the experience, if anything?
Sikisa: Hopefully, a strong urge to buy me a drink after the show – but also I want the audience to walk away feeling a bit more okay about not having it all figured out. Like, yes, life is messy. People are complicated. Love is confusing. The immigration system is a shambles. And sometimes your biggest accomplishment of the week is not ordering a Deliveroo. That’s fine! That’s life!
Jake: Tell us about what you’re most excited about ahead of EdFringe.
Sikisa: Honestly? I’m most excited about surviving the Fringe with my edges intact. But seriously – there’s nothing like Edinburgh. It’s chaotic, intense, smells faintly of falafel and fear… but it’s also magic. I’m excited to be in a space where people are up for taking risks –and have an audience genuinely go with me. I’m buzzing to connect with people – other comics, new audiences, and maybe one or two confused tourists who have no idea who I am. I love seeing how the show grows every day.
Jake: Given the themes of Binge Fringe, if your show was a beverage of any kind (alcoholic, non-alcoholic – be as creative as you like!), what would it be and why?
Sikisa: My show would be a rum punch– because it looks fun, goes down sweet, but halfway through you realise it’s stronger than expected and suddenly you’re crying about your ex and questioning why is the world crazy.
It’s colourful, it’s bold, it sneaks up on you emotionally, and it’s got Caribbean roots (just like me!). There’s a kick of spice, a hit of nostalgia, and by the end you’re not sure if you’ve just been entertained or emotionally ambushed – but you’re glad you had it.
A reminder – you can catch Sikisa: Serving Justice at Monkey Barrel Comedy (The Tron) from July 30th to August 24th (not the 12th) at 17:50 (60mins). Tickets are available through the EdFringe Online Box Office.
Image Credit: Corinne Cumming
